Ordinance Change Would Allow Public Planting Of Trees On Private
Property

A proposed change to the city's tree ordinance would allow the city to
plant trees on private property through an easement, with the trees
becoming the responsibility of the property owner after one year.

The public hearing on the proposal will be held at the City Council
meeting July 31, and the Council is expected to take final action August
7.

The change would allow the Director of Parks and Recreation, with
approval of the Mayor, to ask for the permission of property owners to
plant one or more street trees on property adjacent to the public
right-of-way. These requests would be made when there is insufficient
land available for the planting and proper growth of trees in the public
right-of-way or when the space between the curb and sidewalk is
anticipated to be reduced through a future street project. The property
owners would agree to assume the responsibility for the proper
maintenance of the street trees, including watering, cultivating and
mulching.

"This community prides itself on our beautiful trees, but locating
street trees between the curb and the sidewalk sometimes places them at
risk when the roadway is widened," said Parks and Recreation Director
Lynn Johnson. "This innovative solution has been developed to insure
that Lincoln residents will continue to enjoy tree-lined streets in the
future."

Johnson said city staff would be able to work with property owners
several years in advance of street widening so that young trees would be
established prior to the existing trees being removed.

City Arborist Steve Schwab and the Community Forestry Advisory Board
researched how other communities handled the situation. They worked
with the City Attorney's office on the proposal to work with private
property owners to establish temporary easements for street tree
planting.

The city would designate the type of tree or trees to be planted from
the city's approved street tree list and would also determine
locations. Property owners have the right to refuse street trees just
as they currently do when trees are planted on the city right-of-way.